“Even a moderate increase in happiness at work improves the bottom line by 20%”

  Alexander Kjerulf AKA The Chief Happiness Officer is the founder of Woohoo inc and one of the world’s leading experts on happiness at work

How important is happiness at workplace?
Happiness at work is the most important success factor for businesses, and has a huge impact on the bottom line. One study showed that even a moderate increase in happiness at work improved the bottom line by 20%. Another study showed that the happiest companies are three times as profitable as regular businesses.
Also happiness at work is one of the main sources of happiness in life, so it also has a huge effect on employees. In fact, being unhappy at work can not only make you unhappy in life, it can also make you sick and ultimately kill you.
What are the ways and means by which employees can be happy at work?
Most people and companies get it wrong. They think that happiness at work comes from salaries, raises, bonuses, pension plans and perks. It takes two things to make us happy at work:

• Results
• Relationships

Let’s take a closer look at these two. Firstly, results. We all want to get results. We all want to make a difference, know that our work is important, get appreciation and do work that we can be proud of.
One of our deepest psychological needs is the need to control our environment. If we’re placed in a situation where we have no control and where nothing we do matters, we feel terrible. On the other hand, we love to make a difference. Accomplishment feels great. As Franklin. D. Roosevelt put it: “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”
Some managers don’t realise this about their people. They think employees must be pressured into performing. That when they are left alone, they choose to do nothing. In fact, the reverse is true and when given half a chance, they will work their hearts out to accomplish great results. Especially, meaningful results.
And secondly, there are relationships at work. When you ask people what makes them happy at work, they consistently rate these things highest:

• Nice co-workers.
• A good manager.
• Good communication.
• Fun and a sense of humor in the workplace.

Each of these is a sign of good relations, including care and indeed love – simple signs that people like each other and communicate well. These good relations don’t have to stop with co-workers and managers, but can also apply to customers, suppliers, shareholders, and the company’s wider community.
And relationships at work matter so much because we will be spending a lot of time with people at work. When you think about it, you’ll be spending more of your waking hours with them, than with your friends and family combined.
So this is the secret to happiness at work: Results and relationships – doing great work together with great people.
Do you believe employers should do their part to keep their employees happy? What are some of the possible strategies they could implement to create a happy workplace?
The company has a responsibility to be good workplace and executives must make happiness a strategic priority.  Managers need to realise that happiness at work is the most important driver of productivity. So, managers need to realise that their most important job is to make sure that their employees have results and relationships and are happy at work.
They can do simple things like praising people who do good work. They must make sure to connect with and understand their employees, so they feel understood and valued. They must give employees the tools and resources they need to do a good job.
Otherwise they will end up creating a very unhappy and unsuccessful workplace.
Are there some things that employees must be careful about while trying to be happy at work?
I’ve spoken in India several times and there are two things I’ve noticed about Indian workplaces, that I think needs to be changed before they can become really happy. One is that there seems to a very authoritarian culture – the boss’ word is law and the structure is very hierarchical. Also, in some places at least, low-level employees are treated quite rudely or badly. This is bad for employee happiness. It is important to treat every employee, regardless of status or position, with respect.
Also, I’ve noticed that Indian workplaces look to the US for clues on management. Well let me tell you something: The American management style doesn’t even work that well in America. And considering how rich the Indian culture is, I would much rather see Indian workplaces look there for inspiration than to the USA.
Finally, I think the huge advantage you have in India is that there is already in Indian culture and society a desire to be happy, at least in private life. I would love to see more Indians take that desire into the workplace.